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Fiji lawyers detained

In Fiji, there are calls for the military government to release the president of the Fiji Law Society. Dorsami Naidu was arrested yesterday after he went on ABC Radio and criticised the sacking of the country's judges and censoring of local journalists. Former vice-president of the Fiji Law Society Tupou Draunidalo says anyone who speaks out can expect to be detained.

PETER CAVE: In Fiji, there are calls for the military government to release the president of the Fiji Law Society.

Dorsami Naidu was arrested yesterday after he went on ABC Radio and criticised the sacking of the country's judges and the censoring of local journalists.

All of Fiji's judges were sacked last week after the President abrogated the constitution.

The Supervisor of Elections, the Ombudsman, the Auditor-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commissioner of Police and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji have also been removed.

The former vice-president of the Fiji Law Society Tupou Draunidalo has been telling Michael Vincent, anyone who speaks out can expect to be detained.

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: Yesterday, at about 11 or 12 - I can't recall exactly - we were having a cup of tea at a kiosk across the road from the Lautoka High Court. A policeman showed up and they asked if they could have a chat to him, and then asked him if he would go down to the station with them.

He drove his own vehicle there, and they questioned him, interviewed him the whole of yesterday, then they said they'd keep him overnight.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Why do you believe they took him away?

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: It's yet to be confirmed, but I think the line of questioning was that he had called an unlawful meeting of lawyers yesterday at the Lautoka High Court.

That's the allegation under the new emergency regulation.

MICHAEL VINCENT: That he had called a meeting is why he was detained?

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: Yes, that he had called a meeting of lawyers.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Were you aware that the president had also been on radio in Australia criticising the new Government?

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: He had told members what he was doing.

MICHAEL VINCENT: And did he believe he may be...

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: Yes, he said he believed he would be...

MICHAEL VINCENT: ... detained for doing that?

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: Yes. And I know all of us, any of us that speak to international media, will be under the same risk, so... But you know, it's not something we do lightly, but we feel obliged to.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Are there many people speaking out in Fiji?

TUPOU DRAUNIDALU: I don't think you would get too many people to take the risk, and that's completely understandable.

As I say, we're not dealing here with a situation where there's certainty as to the law.

We are dealing here with a situation where, you know, there are tyrants, or a tyrant, and there are guns running around. So you speak and you take risks at your peril.